64 Sport Fury Project - Run away or take it on?

[Madmopars]

Hey guys, I've stumbled across a 64 Sport Fury project and am trying to decide if I want to take it on or not. I wasn't really looking for one but came across this one while getting some parts and it caught my eye. It's been robbed for parts over the years and at a glance appears to be missing the motor, transmission, hood, front bumper, grille, front seats, tail lights, etc. It's an Arizona car that's been sitting for years and although there's no paint left, it's only surface rusted, not rotted. It appears to be a 4 speed car. Whether converted or original, I have yet to confirm. Regardless, when I first spotted it, my thoughts were to take the 413, 18 Spline 4 speed, and Dana from my 64 F100 abortion and swap it into the Plymouth. That being said, the drivetrain isn't really an issue for me. What does have me concerned is these early B bodies aren't really my wheelhouse. How many of these parts are one year only or a nightmare to locate? Are these early parts obtainable and or reasonably affordable? My thoughts are these early B bodies don't command top dollar so I would think the parts should be more realistically priced than say 68-70 Charger parts. However, rarity of the parts may be a factor that I have no grasp on. I guess what it comes down to is I'm not so much concerned with the purchase price of the car, let's say it was free. My concern is, will I be disappointed as I try to put this thing back together with regards to locating and purchasing parts? I know starting with a complete car would be ideal, but it's 2024 and some of these projects have to be considered. So what do you guys think? Put it together as a patched up toy and beat on it while slowly making it whole again? Run away? Part it out and put it out of its misery? Let me know what you guys think and hopefully I'll make the right choice. Thanks guys!

 

[Runcharger]

Depends how nice you want it in the end. Yes, lots of 1 year only parts, however lots of 64s built and a lot of what you will need was used on 4 doors as well. If it's a good price I wouldn't pass it up being an Az. body. Then tuck it away and look for parts or a parts car. If you take time the parts can be sourced, if you're in a hurry it's going to cost a lot more. Stock interiors in those cars were beautiful, also a bit pricey to do right.
64 Fury is the best of that generation IMO.

 

[snakeyes]

photos would be nice

 

[#41]

It depends on what you want to do with the car as far as finished product and how much motivation you have. Once you get outside the range of 66-74(+/-) reproduction parts get real scarce and quality gets even worse. It really makes you appreciate a nicely restored earlier car.

 

[YY1]

Check the cowl and firewall.

 

[Ron H]

JMO, given you say you’re not a fan of early B’s, I’d either pass on it or if it’s a nice deal to buy, take it and re-sell it to someone who wants to restore a ride like this if reselling has some worth for the trouble. A ‘sport’ makes it more special. As posted you can find parts, but should be patient. I restored a ’63 CA Fury vert, nothing special, but it was in pristine shape and mostly all there.

Despite doing a lot of the work myself, I’ve invested a good $10+grand in this one, more than I could sell it for; but I was doing it to keep it and make it the way I wanted it. The three-rides I restored over the years, I could say were not my ultimate favorite cars, but top-10ish. The ones I had being more top 5, I sold off eons ago when they were cheap and can’t bring myself to pay the huge-bucks to buy one needing a good amount of restoration, though if I was younger, probably would.

Speaking of finding parts, I got some fantastic deals and then some where had I held off before buying, I would have saved a lot of cash later finding those parts popping up for less. Kind of averaged out, at least I like to think so, lol.

 

[Detective D]

Well this is easy!

Step one, check the car to see if it is some weird rare thing or not. I doubt it. If somehow it actually is, then the plan forward is a little trickier depending on if you want to keep it or not.

I will presume it is not something fancy. That being the case, I wouldn;t bother with making it look like a show car. The thing has been picked over and is missing a lot. Well, that is a sign to me that you should not worry about "correct" and worry more about righteous burnouts and cool factor. This is a restmod car with little rust work to do, meaning it should be "low budget"(LOL, as if that is a thing anymore!) to the point of depending on your preference, DIY shiny black garage paint job with the chrome shined up and a set of aftermarket wheels is good enough for burnouts and weekend cruising.

I am just a gear head though. So to me a clean parts car that is missing stuff is more hot rod then "restore" and I would go after it as such without much regard to "correct". Besides, when you want to sell it later, it will be worth the same amount in mediocre paint, burnout capable running shape to the guy that wants to cruise it as it will to the guy that wants to "restore it fully".
Not because of what it is or anything, but because "restore fully"" for basically any car ever for a collector means drop it off at a pro shop and have them strip and rebuild. So to the collector, a rust free body is a rust free body.

All that said, decide if you want to actually get it to the point of burnouts at least before taking it on. because you have to want to leave some rubber and get a few thumbs up in it or you will lose interest piecing it back together otherwise and it will feel like you wasted your time. In short: don;t worry about "restore" guy's $$ value only opinions on the "correct" way to handle a car like that and decide what you want from it yourself. In WI, an Arizona car needing only a drivetrain is like a dream come true for gear heads like me. I would take it on just for that, but this is rust city WI. People in the south have these hard choices to make like which project car they want to take on

 

[Budnicks]

If the price is right, it could be worth it
only you know that part...
Budget ? again only you know

IMHFO 'perfect candidate for a day 2 build, resto-mod or racecar

Resto-mod'd 4 speed car too boot, would be fun

Like you said you have a drivetrain, from the 64 F100/with a 413 MoPar in it
I'll bet that pissed of the purist too

It could be tough finding some parts, trim grill etc.
swap meets & keep looking in the classified & do a few WTB adds too

Good luck, if you do pull the trigger

 

[moparker]

Run Forrest! RUN!!

 

[Richard Cranium]

Unfortunately, 64’s don’t fetch the big bucks and if you want to make it fairly nice, you’ll be financially upside down in no time.

 

[chargervert]

If you are building the car to drive and enjoy,I would say do it! A nice solid car to start with is a huge plus. If you are building it to flip for a profit,read the post above!

 

[RemCharger]

I agree ,if you like cars and the hobby, perfect!
If you like making money/ staring at computer screens, maybe bitcoin would be better entertainment!!

 

[Runcharger]

64 F100 vs 64 Sport Fury. Easy choice. Lighter, prettier faster,

 

[Madmopars]

Thanks for all the input guys. It's a long story but I'm still trying to work a deal for the car. It's for sale, but there's been no commitment on the price from the seller. I should know more soon hopefully and will keep you guys updated as I know more. If all goes well, I'll be posting pictures before to long. Thanks again!

 

[maxwedgechar]

As @YY1 says check the cowl! My Max shows 23,500 miles on the speedometer. I am willing to believe it is close. It was a daily driver and has small holes in the corners, BUT the cowl was fixed! I had a '63 Savoy 4 door parts car that I never had the heart to break up. It showed 52,000 miles and I am willing to believe it. The cowl was perfect except underneath there was no heater plenum and where the left wiper pivot attached was non-existent! Then there was the '64 Sport Fury California convertible a friend had sitting in his shop's parking lot, full of water with a near perfect body shell EXCEPT FOR THE HOLE IN THE COWL!

 

[T Brashears]

If it’s cheap,gut it,paint it,and put enough pars on it to drive it. Beaters can be fun. Otherwise,as stated before,you’ll be upside down before you finish the plan.

 

[T Brashears]

Mine got a cowl,at least it came with the car,you never know what’s under those little rust spots!

 

[33 IMP]

ONLY take on a project like this if you LOVE it. If you're questioning if you want it It or not..... you don't want it enough!